Published every Three Months. Sponsored
by an International Group of Theosophists.
Objectives: To uphold and promote the Original Principles of the modern
Theosophical Movement, and to disseminate the teachings of the Esoteric
Philosophy as set
forth by H.P. Blavatsky and her Teachers.
Editor: Boris de Zirkoff.
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None of the organized Theosophical Societies, as such, are responsible
for any ideas expressed in this magazine, unless contained in an official
document. The Editor is responsible for unsigned articles only.

*

THOUGHTS
TO REMEMBER ...
SELF-KNOWLEDGE

The first necessity for obtaining self-knowledge is to become profoundly
conscious of ignorance; to feel with every fiber of the heart that one
is ceaselessly self-deceived.

The second requisite is the still deeper conviction that such knowledge
- such intuitive and certain knowledge - can be obtained by effort.

The third and most important is an indomitable determination to obtain
and face that knowledge.

Self-knowledge of this kind is unattainable by what men usually call "self-analysis." It
is not reached by reasoning or any brain process; for it is the awakening
to consciousness of the Divine nature of man.

To obtain this knowledge is a greater achievement than to command the
elements or to know the future. - Unsigned, but possibly by H.P. Blavatsky,
in Lucifer, Vol. 1, October 1887, p. 89 p. 119.

"Of all the arts that exist, living is the most difficult as well
as the most exciting. To live is to express something from within oneself
from moment to moment. The experience of living is, more immediately,
the experience of ourselves in action, and ultimately of that nature
in us which shows itself as beauty, as love, and as truth. All these
belong to a depth in ourselves beyond the extensions of the superficial
mind. Matter or a knowledge of matter can rive rise by itself only to
a sense of extension and not to a feeling of depth ... Therefore, progress
lies in knowing the meaning that is in our relationship to things, and
in so shaping the things that belong to our living and our own behavior
in every aspect of it, that they ring true to the eternal nature of ourselves,
that of the one Spirit, the white light from which each soul derives
its individual colors ..." - N. Sri Ram, The Theosophist,
April, 1955, pp. 17-18. [3]

*

RHYTHMS
IN OUR MOVEMENTBoris de Zirkoff

The periodic appearance of spiritual teachers is governed, like everything
else in Nature, by definite laws, and has nothing to do with so-called
chance. It is just as much subject to the function of universal forces
as any other manifestation of Cosmic Life. Periodicity or rhythm is the
very basis of that Life, and therefore all its outflowing and inflowing
energies are vibratory or periodic.

Cycles not only follow cycles, but overlap each other in many instances,
smaller ones operating on other frequencies than the larger ones; hence
arises a vast complexity, the occult mathematics of which has never been
disclosed so far, outside of mere hints and general data. Therefore,
a great deal pertaining to this subject is fragmentary and speculative,
and it would be rash and incautious on the part of students to become
dogmatic about it.

The spiritual effort made in the last quarter of the nineteenth century
through the agency of H.P. Blavatsky, a direct Messenger of the Trans-Himalayan
Brotherhood of Adepts, was in serial succession to previous similar efforts,
and coincided with the convergence of several important cycles, one of
them being the end of the first 5,000 years of the Kali-yuga, in the
year 1897.

Periodic attempts to bring spiritual enlightenment to the Occident originated
with the great reformer of Tibetan Buddhism, Tsong-kha-pa, a reincarnation
of Gautama the Buddha, who founded in the fourteenth century the school
of the Gelukpas or so-called "Yellow-caps." Among his
commandments there is one which enjoins the Arhats to make an attempt
to enlighten the world, including the "white barbarians," every
century, at a certain specific period of the cycle. It is on this basis
that students of the Esoteric Philosophy the world over hope for the
appearance of another agent of the Brotherhood of Adepts in our confused
and distraught world, towards the latter quarter of this century.

Such an expectation finds a confirmation in the following
words of H.P.B. from the Introductory to The Secret Doctrine (Vol.
I, p. xxxviii.)

"In Century the Twentieth some disciple more informed, and far
better filled, may be sent by the Masters of Wisdom to give final and
irrefutable proofs that there exists a Science called Gupta-Vidya;
and that, like the once-mysterious sources of the Nile, the source of
all religions and philosophies now known to the world has been for many
ages forgotten and lost to men, but is at last found."

It stands to reason, however, that the appearance of such teachers is
not a foregone conclusion, and depends to a very large extent upon the
general condition of humanity and upon the "call" that may
exist at any one time for spiritual help and guidance. It does not mean
that, no matter what horrible mess we may have created [4] for
ourselves through our selfishness and ignorance, the Brotherhood of Adepts
will send their Messenger just the same. They will not, and for the simple
reason that there are conditions in which no spiritual work can be done,
and where the activities of such an agent would be wasted. However, as
matters stand now in the world of human thought, there is every
likelihood that such a new Messenger may come at his stated time, and
be able to give another impulse to genuine occult work in one or another
part of our world. We should be most careful not to allow our minds to
disregard the enormous spiritual shift of human consciousness that is
taking place all around us, and to become psychologized by the existing
material and psychological confusion into believing that it is fundamental.
The prevailing confusion of thought is symptomatic of a great change
of human consciousness, and that change is from a moribund materialism
into a more spiritual conception of life. Let us not miss the symptoms
which stare at us from every turn of the road.

A word of caution in this connection seems to be called for. We hear
every now and then some resounding statement made by those interested
in the study of occult and mystical subjects, to the effect that a great
Avatara is to appear very soon and bring mankind the solution for all
its ills and troubles. In some quarters this superhuman manifestation
is supposed to be imminent, and to it is attached the name of Maitreya.
The careful student of the Esoteric Philosophy will at once see the reasons
for this confusion.

On the one hand, there is in many quarters an intuitive
feeling that an agent of lite Brotherhood of Adepts will or may come,
with a specific mandate and a message, a mission to perform among men.
On the other hand, untrained minds have confused this thought with the
general, universal expectation of the appearance of a World-Teacher at
the end of a great cycle. Maitreya, which means "the Friendly One," is
the name of the Fifth Buddha, the Kalki Avatara of Vishnu, who will appear
in the Seventh Root-race, millions of years from now. As expressed by
H.P.B. (S.D., Vol. I, p. 470.): "... it is not in the Kali yug,
our present terrifically materialistic age of Darkness, the 'Black Age,'
that a new Saviour of Humanity can ever appear." The appearance
of the tenth Avatara of Vishnu, or Maha-Vishnu, allegorically riding
on a while horse, the symbol of the Sun, has been misconstrued in the
Occident into the shape of the second coming of the Lord, and
the final Judgment. Unless real care is exercised in these occult matters,
vague intuitions are apt to become easily transformed into materialistic
dogmas on the one hand, or pseudo-occult teachings and mere psychic imaginings
on the other.

In preparation for the possible appearance of another Messenger towards
the latter quarter of this century, let us all, as students of the Ancient
Wisdom, forget our differences and past mistakes, and build a united
front of spiritual endeavor, so as to form a suitable matrix for the
new inflow of Life, and a suitable receptacle for the new message, in
the course of time. [5]

From ignorance of the truth about man's real nature and faculties
and their action and condition after bodily death, a number of evils
flow. The effect of such want of knowledge is much wider than the concerns
of one or several persons. Government and the administration of human
justice under man-made laws will improve in proportion as there exists
a greater amount of information on this all-important subject. When
a wide and deep knowledge and belief in respect to the occult side
of nature and of man shall have become the property of the people then
may we expect a great change in the matter of capital punishment.

The killing of a human being by the authority of the state is morally
wrong and also an injury to all the people; no criminal should be executed
no matter what the offence. If the administration of the law is so
faulty as to permit the release of the hardened criminal before the
term of his sentence has expired, that has nothing to do with the question
of killing him.

Under Christianity this killing is contrary to the law supposed to
have emanated from the Supreme Lawgiver. The commandment is: "Thou
shall not kill!" No exception is made for states or governments;
it does not even except the animal kingdom. Under this law therefore
it is not right to kill a dog, to say nothing of human beings. But
the commandment has always been and still is ignored. The Theology
of man is always able to argue away any regulation whatever; and the
Christian nations once rioted in executions. At one time for stealing
a loaf of bread or a few nails a man might be hanged. This, however,
has been so altered that death at the hands of the law is imposed for
murder only, - omitting some unimportant exceptions.

We can safely divide the criminals who have been or will be killed
under our laws into two classes: i.e., those persons who are hardened,
vicious, murderous in nature; and those who are not so, but who, in
a moment of passion, fear, or anger, have slain another. The last may
be again divided into those who are sorry for what they did, and those
who are not. But even though those of the second class are not by intention
enemies of Society, as are the others, they too before their execution
may have their anger, resentment, desire for revenge and other feelings
besides remorse, all aroused against Society which persecutes them
and against those who directly take part in their trial and execution.
The nature, passions, state of mind and bitterness of the criminal
have, hence, to be taken into account in considering the question.
For the condition which he is in when cut off from mundane life has
much to do with the whole subject.

All the modes of execution are violent, whether by the knife, the
sword, the bullet, by poison, rope, or electricity. And for the Theosophist
the term violent as applied to death must mean more than it
does to those who do not [6] hold theosophical views. For the
latter, a violent death is distinguished from an easy natural one solely
by the violence used against the victim. But for us such a death is
the violent separation of the man from his body, and is a serious matter,
of interest to the whole state. It creates in fact a paradox, for such
persons are not dead; they remain with us as unseen criminals, able
to do harm to the living and to cause damage to the whole of Society.

What happens? All the onlooker sees is that the sudden cutting off
is accomplished; but what of the reality? A natural death is like the
falling of a leaf near the winter time. The time is fully ripe, all
the powers of the leaf having separated; those acting no longer, its
stem has but a slight hold on the branch and the slightest wind takes
it away. So with us; we begin to separate our different inner powers
and parts one from the other because their full term has ended, and
when the final tremor comes the various inner component parts of the
man fall away from each other and let the soul go free. But the poor
criminal has not come to the natural end of his life. His astral body
is not ready to separate from his physical body, nor is the vital,
nervous energy ready to leave. The entire inner man is closely knit
together, and he is the reality. I have said these parts are not ready
to separate - they are in fact not able to separate because they are
bound together by law and a force over which only great Nature has
control.

When then the mere physical body is so treated that a sudden, premature
separation from the real man is effected, he is merely dazed for a
time, after which he wakes up in the atmosphere of the earth, fully
a sentient living being save for the body. He sees the people, he sees
and feels again the pursuit of him by the law. His passions are alive.
He has become a raging fire, a mass of hate; the victim of his fellows
and of his own crime. Few of us are able, even under favorable circumstances,
to admit ourselves as wholly wrong and to say that punishment inflicted
on us by man is right and just, and the criminal has only hate and
desire for revenge.

If now we remember that his state of mind was made worse by his trial
and execution, we can see that he has become a menace to the living.
Even if he be not so bad and full of revenge as said, he is himself
the repository of his own deeds; he carries with him into the astral
realm surrounding us the pictures of his crimes, and these are ever
living creatures, as it were. In any case he is dangerous. Floating
as he does in the very realm in which our mind and senses operate,
he is forever coming in contact with the mind and senses of the living.
More people than we suspect are nervous and sensitive. If these sensitives
are touched by this invisible criminal they have injected into them
at once the pictures of his crime and punishment, the vibrations for
his hate, malice and revenge. Like creates like, and thus these vibrations
create their like. Many a person has been impelled by some unknown
force to commit crime; and that force came from such an inhabitant
of our sphere.

And even with those not called "sensitive" these floating
criminals have an effect, arousing evil thoughts where any basis for
such exists in those [7] individuals. We cannot argue away the
immense force of hate, revenge, fear, vanity, all combined. Take the
case of Guiteau, who shot President Garfield. He went through many
days of trial. His hate, anger and vanity were aroused to the highest
pitch every day and until the last, and he died full of curses for
everyone who had anything to do with his troubles. Can we be so foolish
as to say that all the force he thus generated was at once dissipated?
Of course it was not. In time it will be transformed into other forces,
but during the long time before that takes place the living Guiteau
will float through our mind and senses carrying with him and dragging
over us the awful pictures drawn and frightful passions engendered.

The Theosophist who believes in the multiple nature of man and in
the complexity of his inner nature, and knows that that is governed
by law and not by mere chance or by the fancy of those who prate of
the need for protecting society when they do not know the right way
to do it, relying only on the punitive and retaliatory Mosaic law -
will oppose capital punishment. He sees it is unjust to the living,
a danger to the state, and that it allows no chance whatever for any
reformation of the criminal.

*

THE
SPIRITUAL IMPULSES OF THE GREAT CYCLESG. White Hickerson

Observation on the great cycles of nature leads us in a natural
way to a more introspective view of the fundamental spiritual impulses
which move those cycles, and the enquiring mind has ample opportunity
to take note, reflect, and speculate upon the facts thus laid out
before him. He has the opportunity to speculate, that is, if he will
but open his mind and heart.

This opening of the mind and heart may not come as easily as we
are sometimes want to think. All of us, no matter where we happen
to have been born, or where we presently live, are surrounded by,
and enmeshed in, our social fabric. This fabric can be, and too often
is, of such a tightly woven social and religious culture that we
think we are bound beyond our power to do anything about it. In some
instances this undoubtedly is true, at least at the physical level.
But we need not be bound at the mental level. And again, this is
easier to say than to do. For the bridge of mind which can lead to
release is likely to be more unconscious than conscious, for most
of us. This is so, even granting that our present condition has been
brought upon us by ourselves - maybe it is the more dense because
of that very fact. Nevertheless, when we strive to understand the principle which
lies at the very cause of our blindness we take a step in the direction
of opening the channels of mind so that clearer vision becomes possible.

The toughest woven, and most impenetrable fabrics of social culture
are those classified as the most highly civilized. Thoughtful reflection
reveal why this is so. In every social culture there lies buried
a system of ethics upon which that culture was originally established,
but from which [8] most of the working rules of the presently
existing systems have long since departed, leaving in their wake
confusion, social bigotry and religious prejudice.

Let us take an instance from history: The Lord Buddha brought to
His people an ethical system, a science of the soul, if you please.
He reached his own illumination by the sacrifice of everything that
man holds dear, and then laid the fruits of his sacrifice before
his people, in order that a WAY might be shown to them, by which
each one might take hold of and guide the evolution of his own immortal
soul. The Buddha's own personal, as well as his spiritual life, was
so pure and stainless that his great sacrifice opened the doors through
which the eternal forces of Life and Light could flow so that in
the presence of him and, wherever he went, or had been, the terrible
darkness of spiritual ignorance was made lighter.

He was counted as a Saviour, not in any personal sense as referring
to himself as the means by which men could reach salvation, but because
he pointed out in a reasonable, meaningful and possible way, that
each man was his own saviour. And the system of spiritual development
which he taught, and the ethical foundation for a social structure
he showed, gave each man a means whereby he could come to this knowledge
by and for himself. Then having come by the knowledge, he would be
able to choose how best to use it so as to be the better able to
help all others ... (the Only WAY out of the dilemma).

Now what became of that system? It deteriorated into Orthodoxy.
There came to be a Church, with a Head; and the Church established
its own Theology. In short, the Church set up its own interpretation
of how a man should reach his God. This Theology became so bound
by Dogma and Creed that there was little room left for free thinking.

Because of the rigidity, there came a rebellion within the ranks,
and a separation. Thus arose the division of Northern and Southern
Buddhism, each retaining a partial truth, but both beclouded by the
entanglements of Priestcraft.

All this sounds very dark, until looking closer, we come to see
that within each of these orthodoxies, there was still another division:
One known as the exoteric, lay, or mass teachings; the other as the
esoteric, inner, or temple teachings. This is important, because
we will find that it exists in every religion, living or dead; past
or present. (As well as in our most modern fields of scientific investigation.)

The exoteric, lay, or mass teachings are those given to the rank
and file of people; the uneducated, as well as those who are willing
to listen at all to ethical guidance. And if there are any bright
enough, or who have endured misery long enough to cause any sort
of spiritual yearning within their breasts, they may, perchance,
ask questions. This would indicate that some glimmerings of truth
were beginning to awaken, some movement away from blind belief and
passive acceptance. If this attitude of questioning persists long
enough and is pursued sincerely, some light is bound to be seen.
And for the great multitude this is all that is desired. For these
(the multitudes) the idea of self-struggle heavenwards far one's
own [9] emancipation is yet too nebulous a concept, perhaps,
because for too many lifetimes they have become deadened by the idea
that only through the offices of the Church may they be saved, and
then only by the whim or grace of some unknown Almighty, personal
God. It may take, for these, many more lifetimes of suffering and
heart pain until they are ready to stand up and declare their own
divinity as sons of Light in their own right.

When this time does come we witness the apparent phenomenon of a
man either seeking, or being "favorably born" so as to
come into contact with the Esoteric, inner teachings. Actually, this
is no phenomenon. The man has earned this opportunity by his own
effort in trying to alleviate in some way the ignorance, pain, suffering,
sorrow and darkness of his fellows.

What, then, is this opportunity? A chance to learn of the existence
of a holy of knowledge which has always been, and which is constantly
being renewed in each cycle by some member of a Brotherhood which
has dedicated itself throughout aeons of time to the keeping of the Light,
and periodically to bringing it into the world so that men might
have an opportunity to free themselves from the entanglements which
have helped them to forget their divine origin.

These dedicated members of the Ancient Brotherhood, when
they appear among men, are called Saviours, Wise Men, Initiates,
etc. They bring again and again the SAME message, couched in the
language of the then existing civilizations. They help to establish
a system of ethics for the masses of humanity to which they come,
and thy teach and preach to as many as will listen.

In addition to this they take unto Themselves a body of men to whom
they teach the inner, or esoteric knowledge (or as much of it as
can be grasped by those so taught). This body of men are always Pledged.
Pledged to the Master? No! Pledged never to use their knowledge
for their own benefit, but always to work and teach so as to
help every living creature, and to live according to that Pledge,
or Vow. They are the Disciples, striving to understand the teachings
of the Master, and in their turn serving the people as guides and
instructors whenever and however it is possible.

Almost always, when the Master leaves the scene, and the instructions
and teachings are in the hands of the Disciples, there comes a progressive
deterioration, and in some cases, outright perversion of the original
teaching.

These various interpretations become the basis for established religions,
each having its own peculiar, or pet, but limited view. Then these
religions become dominant in their own names, and claim adherents
unto themselves, declaring that only through their particularized
channel or priestly intervention can the Way to God be found.

But here and there, in all quarters of the earth, the real esotericism
always exists, and may be found by those who are persistent, and
whose hearts are dedicated to the service of their fellow
humans. Many have been persistent enough, it is true, but they lacked
dedication, or had some lingering hope of personal gain or fame. [10]

These may find the outer lobby of this or that school, but no amount
of persistence without dedication can take a man across that inner
threshold where he must go alone, and where only his heart's highest
purpose can carry him safely through the corridor - for he must leave
at the entrance even a fleeting wish for any personal gain.

This is the corridor we must pass through at death, alone. But each
of the Great Teachers has indicated, and exemplified in his own life,
that we need not wait until death overtakes us and we must go involuntarily.
We may voluntarily walk through this corridor and return again, with
a knowledge that will help to bring a little more light into the
darkened corners of earth. This is the meaning of Initiation.
Its counterpart is shadowed in the exoteric rituals of the established
churches, in their instructions and interpretations of doctrine and
ritual to candidates for the ministry, priesthood, etc., and for
the laity, by the taking of "communion," by "joining
the church," by "Baptism," etc.

Each of the Saviours and Great Teachers has taught this, and the
means of doing it, to his Disciples. But the point is, that these
rituals are all symbolic - the actual transfiguration must
be accomplished by each one for himself! No one can do it for us!

One hopeful sign in our present-day civilization, even at the height
of its complexities, scientific advances, and materialistic views,
is that it is possible to say with conviction, that no longer can
the dominance of lite various orthodoxies, including the Christian,
becloud the issue by claiming that it, and it alone, can present
the Way, the Truth, and the Light - or "Salvation." We
have come far enough to be able to see that this is not true.

Many current publications by thoughtful and scholarly editors and
their staffs, as well as study groups composed of reputable people
who are interested in an unprejudiced study of comparative religions,
are laying the foundation, for all who will, to see for themselves.
Of course there will always be those who will not see, because
they do not want to see. Seeing would mean assuming a personal responsibility
for their own soul, which they presently feel they can trust to the
Church.

We see the same pattern as was evidenced in the Buddhistic religious
systems come to light again in the Christian. All sects claim to
be based upon Holy writ. (In this case, the Holy Bible that is meant
is a selection of books, carefully chosen from among the many originally
extant, and critically edited, so as to reflect only the orthodoxy
of the Mother Church - all other records having been discarded.)

It is not just recently that this has been discovered, but it is
fairly recently that it has been even reluctantly admitted by scholars,
that the stories of the Christian Bible are not necessarily original,
but that the same stories, with the same morals, and in some cases
with the exact nomenclature, are to be found in all the other Bibles
of ancient Religions, and that the Christian Bible is, actually in
point of time, one of the youngest of this family of Bibles.

This fact in itself should help the Christian to see that the little
wedge of the whole which is called [11] Christianity (or some
small fragment of that to which he might presently belong) is identical
at its root with that of every other great system, and that all of
them are a part of one great WHOLE.

Once he sees this he can no longer be bound. He will be on his road
to that freedom of thought and community of spirit which will give
him a consciousness of understanding his spiritual brotherhood with
every other living creature, as well as men from all other religions,
or none.

Starting from the central, inner point of the great circle, which
is divided into many wedges (the countless religious systems with
their sects), we find the Eternal Ancient Wisdom, that LIGHT
which illumines the esoteric side of every system of ethics, no matter
how far removed from the central point, and no matter how much infiltrated
with the darkness of exoteric superstructure. It is the point from
which every system evolved, by means of its living messengers,
who gave it its impulse - and to which each man must return - by
himself, thus assuming responsibility for his own spiritual motion.

The multitudes of humanity are concentrated at the outer reaches
of the great wheel, and it is here at the rim that Instinct shows
itself in a kind of social consciousness, which reveals the awareness
of an actual inner need for interdependence. For gregariousness is,
in fact, a false security, in that it is but a reflection of the Intuitive knowledge
of our spiritual unity.

Thus is it, that when even the first intuitive spark is awakened
in his heart a man will have made the first chink in the wall which
he fancies separates him from all the rest. Conversely, as he begins
his return journey, he at first finds himself utterly alone. Then
the nearer he comes to the central point, the more of unity and actual
fraternity he comes to know.

But while on the outermost circle, away from the central point,
where there is the greatest materialism, a man will encounter stubborn
ignorance, and the deliberate refusal to budge mentally from the
rut in which he finds himself. Such a one will in time he forced,
by the centrifugal motion of life itself, to the outermost and darkest
place of all, utter disbelief in anything. Yet, even at this late
hour the anguished cry of his soul may reach through and penetrate
his heart, so that some light may reach his mind and cause him to
reconsider.

While those who will accept the challenge and make any effort to
awaken within themselves some heartlight, encounter first the sects
of the greater or lesser religions (or in some cases the even more
rigid orthodoxy of exact science). These, in turn are separated from
each other, even within the same nominal headship, by fancies, opinions,
notions, customs, traditions and blind beliefs. All of these represent
a few of the prison bars of mind which hold him back from making
the crossing into the next structure available to him.

When he can work his way through these bars he will come into a
new area.

In this place he finds Theologies, Orthodoxies,
Dogmas, Creeds (and for the scientist, definitive limits).
These are the prison bars which keep the [12] various religious
sects apart, and breed hatreds, wars, and secularizations of whole
communities.

But if he has the moral courage to question and compare these various
declarations of the individual sects - religious, or scientific,
or even go so far as to examine the basis of the total structure
of the section to which he belongs, he will learn that the Greek
and Norse Mythologies, the Mayan and the American Indian lore, have
as much validity as their more acclaimed, and more highly esteemed
younger brothers in concepts. And he will also learn that the Zoroastrians,
Confucianists, Taoists, and Hindus had an established religious and
ethical culture which far antedates the Hebrew, Islamic and Christian
traditions.

Then he will find that the FAITH in his own heart must be the key
which unlocks the next door for him. (For faith is a power.)
If this faith is of an unflagging and unselfish variety he will find
that he can unlock the door. That door is the one which opens into
the Great Opportunity.

This opportunity is to contact the underlying DOCTRINE of each and
every system, religious or secular. This means study, work, and enduring
faith. Faith in himself; faith that he can learn; and faith that
having learned he will he able, in time, to discriminate between
Learning (an accumulation of facts) and Wisdom (the intelligent and
proper use of knowledge). Within these precincts he has the opportunity
to prove himself and at last come to the gate of Philosophy.

When he has earned the right to begin his work in the fields of
Philosophy, it may be that he will also have earned the right to
have the help of a teacher or companion. It is then, if he hasn't
discovered it before, that he will know that all the lines
of demarcation between all the secular and religious systems do not
exist in the inner light; but have been set up by the bigotries of
men in their pride and self-righteousness, and in some instances,
a mistaken feeling of rightful sovereignty, which is, in fact, but
a mask for the desire for power. He will know this because he has
not only been willing, but because he has actually abandoned all
those attitudes of mind which separate one from another. And then philo-sophia,
the love of truth, will begin to open his inner heart and
mind so that he will apply himself the more assiduously. At last,
he will be willing (because he sees the necessity), to "become
as nothing in the eyes of men."

When he has reached this stage there will he very few who will be
able to recognize him as being any different from the run of men.
It is then that he may dwell in our very household and we will not
know him. But as a humble and pure man his very presence brings peace
wherever he may be. He is then truly a "comfort" to his
fellow men.

He is approaching the Ancient Wisdom. He has undergone many inner
initiations, and entered into new fields of enlightenment. Then,
perhaps, after aeons of such work among many humanities, he may be
ready to offer the final sacrifice and become one of THEM, who, through
giving up everything, gain all.

This approaches the central lesson of the esoteric teachings of
every religion, regardless of its variants in [13] sect structure.
It approaches the central meaning of the idea of Initiation. On the
more materialistic plane this has been symbolized in fasting (sacrifice),
prayer (meditation), and self-analysis which in some religions has
degenerated into the confessional - a method also copied by modern
psychoanalysis, a sort of pseudo-scientific substitute for the benefit
of the sophisticated and non-religious. This is all to be followed
by Union with God (the Higher Self ) - ILLUMINATION.

It is said in the ancient teachings that the Great Ones rejoice
at the return of a pilgrim from the "farther shores," and
that All Nature re-echoes this rejoicing. Another Saviour has been
born. Self-Born, that is, in a spiritual sense.

And the reason for this rejoicing? Such an one will go forth again
into the world of men and strive with all his might to point the
Way by which each man may become his own Saviour, and know for
himself the meaning of Resurrection, from the death of the outer
phantasmagoria of flesh, into the inner light of spirit. And he will
be reviled, and crucified for his pains, because the world will have
none of him. But he will TRY, and he will gather about him those
who are teachable. Then, after he is gone, his Disciples will carry
on the Work to the best of their light, and a new Religion
will be founded. And in it will be the opportunity for those
who can see through its tyranny to its heart. And perchance
out of the many millions, a few will begin to thread their way hack
to the Central Point of the Eternal Ancient Wisdom.

Thus the great spiritual cycles, impelled by living power, go out
and return, only to go forth again and again, garnering each time
new harvests of Beings, the workers in the fields of spiritual
enlightenment.

*

DOINGH.W. Dempster

Some one asked Tom Paine once what was his definition of religion,
to which he replied: "To do good."

There is probably nothing that brings us greater satisfaction inwardly
than the performance of right action with good motive. The whole
scheme of the Universe is based on action and reaction throughout
Eternal time and infinite space, except during the periodic cycles
of rest, which itself is part of the endless chain of action. Even
a non-action willed by us is doing or acting in another form.

Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita was faced with the problem of
whether he should fight, or not, there being "relatives" of
his on the opposing side. Krishna's counsel to him was that he must
act. This meant that he had to face his own Karma no matter what
it was. There is no escape. Therefore, one should never evade an
issue.

In fact, to face an issue or problem is often a great blessing.
To consider whatever fortune that may befall us an advantage enables
us to grow out of the arm-chair-philosopher into a real one. Stand
your ground - [14] never retreat! There may of course be exceptional
conditions existing where to hold your fire or mark time is the wisest
course; but, generally speaking, it is better to make a choice and
act, with the knowledge that you must also face the reaction of that
action; that develops wisdom.

It is good for people to ask themselves the question as to whether
or not they are doing all that they can or should be doing in a given
situation, or in regard to their life generally.

Are we doing anything for someone else? Are we expecting some special
favor or recognition for some noble act? Are we as generous and considerate
as we might be? Do we think at all about the suffering and hard lot
of another, when we could help him in some way? Are we lacking in
our standard of honesty and fair play? Do we really "listen" to
the needs of others? Have we as much understanding as we think we
have? What is our attitude toward those who radically disagree with
our own viewpoints? How calm are we inside?

Again referring to the Gita, it points out that two of the
four ways of gaining wisdom are by doing service and by asking questions.
Oftentimes it is better honestly to ask many questions of ourselves,
as suggested above, than to drift from one rut into another, without
purpose.

If you are doubtful about a choice you should make, or a course
of action, ask yourself many pertinent questions and answer them
honestly to yourself - then act.

It is usually better to act after due reflection and to allow inner
feeling and honest conviction a chance to make themselves known.
If the brain-mind is over active, it will play tricks and fool us
badly.

Contemplation and meditation are useful, really indispensable, factors
in helping us to do the right thing at the right time.

One meets in travels "talkers" and "braggers," who
form an interesting contrast to the ones we know as the "doers."

Sometimes we see quite inconspicuous individuals whose achievements
resulting from their "doing" are very remarkable. It is
difficult if not impossible to judge by appearances and very unwise
to accept the talker at face value. There is no better proof of an
individual's type of character than to observe the fruits of his
own actions. Let each one prove himself.

Everyone of us should recognize the many challenges that loom up
in our destiny as opportunities of doing something to enhance the
welfare of another; by so doing we improve the condition of man universally.

Try each day and each hour to keep alive in your heart the many
ways to apply what you already know. Keep in the foreground of your
mind the many wonderful teachings you have learned in your study
of Theosophy and let them speak loudly in their own appropriate way
by the way you fulfill your responsibilities.

Look life in the eye squarely and know that nothing can hurt you
except yourself.

Karma, reincarnation, evolution and cycles really should make of
one's life "a poem as lovely as a tree" or as beautiful
as a flower growing ever upward towards the Divine source of itself
- the Root of all that is. [15]

*

THE MIDDLE WAY

Out of experience wisdom is born. But it takes more than a lot of
living to make a person wise. It takes discrimination and the ability
to interpret experience intelligently.

There was once a King who prayed for Wisdom, as the legend goes;
but when he received it, he found it useless since all of those around
him were too foolish to understand it. Wisdom is indeed useless,
if it cannot be applied.

"Life", John Galsworthy once wrote, "is mysterious
harmony between part and part, and part and whole"; and Truth
he said is "Spiritual Proportion." Beauty is that which
is impersonal, and uplifting. "A choir-boy's voice, a ship in
sail, an opening flower, a child's grace, a rippling stream - these
are the drops of rain that keep the human spirit from death by drought."

Unfortunately, it is so characteristic of the human race to be eternally
either shouting at the gates of heaven, or teetering on the brink
of hell; a heaven and a hell created by themselves, out of their
own actions and thoughts. Mankind has not yet learned the great lesson
of moderation, the Middle Way which has been the message of so many
of the noblest Sages of all times. This is caused mostly from a quality
that man has as yet little understood, and this is Desire. Desire
leads him into indulgence and plunges him into self-destruction.
Then suddenly realizing the danger, he draws back and with another
wave of desire, as it were, to save only himself, he jumps to the
other pole - fanaticism and hysterical worship of self-created gods
and idols. Very few seem to be the people who have the wisdom to
tread daily the steady, unspectacular path which leads to union with
themselves, and to a balanced life of usefulness and service to others.

It is interesting to note that it is the opposites in life that
so often cause trouble. Extreme cold will kill; and so will extreme
heat. The Sun itself can both heal and bring death. Excess in anything
will burn out the faculties and in the end defeat the very purpose
for which man strives. A Leader too far ahead of the people he wishes
to enlighten can hope but for very little success in his chosen field.

If we can temper our moods of optimism - unrestrained optimism -
with cheerfulness and the courage to face reality, and our occasional
pessimism with faith and the ability to see things as they really
are, we then have a mean that is workable, and a guiding light which
is safe.

The great Sage of China, Lao-Tse, said: "Temper your sharpness,
disentangle your ideas, moderate your brilliancy, live in harmony
with your age. This is being in conformity with the principle of
Tao." And this is the Middle Way. "Such a man," he
said, "is impervious alike to favor and to disgrace, benefit
and injury, honor and contempt. And therefore is he esteemed above
all mankind."

Strange at it might sound, nevertheless it is true that favor, honor,
benefits, fame, are as dangerous to man as are disgrace, injury and
contempt, unless he has learned how to rise above both. "Indifference
to [16] pleasure and to pain, Truth alone perceived," is
an ancient precept which is full of wisdom.

Some people are fond of Science; some others of Philosophies; and
others still are full of devotion for Religion; but how many people
realize the simple fact that a balanced life needs all the approaches
to Truth at the same time? If we could balance solid Science with
a working Philosophy of life and blend these with true spiritual
aspiration - we could tread the age-old Path of Wisdom, the Middle
Way. Who can do this for us, except we ourselves!

We have so many extremists in the world. So many people who are
trying every day to force their ideas upon other minds, receptive
minds at that. Most of the world's troubles arise in this. Intolerant
attitudes, aggressive propaganda, forcing others to accept for a
time what they really do not want to have. How then can we have peace
among men? Peace arises out of mutual understanding, harmony in thought,
gentle kindness in conduct.

When a man realizes this simple fact, he will then reach out towards
the highest he has within himself for true guidance. We are, each
one of us, a whole Universe in miniature. Are we not? Think of the
billions of atoms which compose our bodies; the things within us
which we cannot see with the eye? All these atoms are like children
of ours. And they certainly need training and harmonizing, before
they are at peace with themselves. And how can we have peace among
men in the world, before each one of us has reached to that peace
within himself ?

Only by avoiding extremes, and by being kind, just, discriminating,
selfless, firm but compassionate, can we ever attain to peace, and
bring peace among men. This is the Middle Way of the Sages.

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